Young Bess (1953)

Jean Simmons: Young Bess (Queen Elizabeth I)

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ann Seymour : Don't try to befuddle me by using words beyond my understanding.

  Young Bess : I'm sorry, madam, but they are difficult to avoid.

• Thomas Seymour : If you were Queen of England, what would you do, eh? Would you give your Admiral the opportunity to do great deeds?

  Young Bess : I'd give him the opportunities he never dared to dream about. I'd send him around the globe as the Portuguese do. I'd send him to the New World to let the Spaniards know that they are no longer masters of it.

  Thomas Seymour : That won't be easy. We're a small country, Bess.

  Young Bess : That can be remedied, Tom. It *can* be remedied!

• Young Bess : Take care, madam, I'm warning you.

  Ann Seymour : Who are you - to warn the Protector's wife?

  Young Bess : My mother's daughter!

• Thomas Seymour : I've only just begun.

  Young Bess : And I've just finished!

• Catherine Parr : I'm so glad to have you with me. Your tutors tell me you have brains to match your looks.

  Young Bess : It is a very poor compliment to my brains, Your Majesty.

  Catherine Parr : Nonsense. You're going to be beautiful, my dear. And what's much better, a charming companion for me.

• King Henry VIII : Haven't your tutors told you the world is round?

  Young Bess : They must be wrong and the world is flat!

  King Henry VIII : So, it's flat! You shape the world as it suits you!

  Young Bess : Why not? Didn't you?

  King Henry VIII : [pause, laughs]  So I did! You're my daughter!

• King Henry VIII : You saw the French coming. What will you do when they come again?

  Young Bess : England has never been invaded.

  King Henry VIII : Not by the Normans?

  Young Bess : Yes, but, they were us or they couldn't have done it.

  King Henry VIII : Hey, did you all hear what she said? Ned, Tom, did you hear what she said? Oh, oh, I wish she were a boy. Watch her grow up, Tom. And you keep an eye on her. Ned, you wait and see, she'll make you jump. She'll twist your tail for it. Oh, I wish I were there to see the fun.

• Ann Seymour : This is a matter of character.

  Young Bess : What do you know of my character. I knew your mother.

  Ann Seymour : I knew your mother.

  Young Bess : Well, leave my mother out of it, if you please.

  Ann Seymour : I do not please! Like mother, like daughter. And we know what she was.

• Young Bess : One day he might sail my ships, with my flag - with my love.

• Young Bess : I must talk to you.

  Thomas Seymour : At this hour? And in my room? And you in your bedgown? Use your head and allow me to keep mine on my shoulders.

• Young Bess : I love you, Tom. I've always loved you. Long before you married her. I didn't want to. It should never have happened, but I can't stop loving you, Tom. I just couldn't bear it anymore. I wanted to hurt you. I was lonesome and desperate for you. Only you! I love you, Tom. I love you.

• Young Bess : I think I danced with almost everyone this evening. I haven't stopped for hours. Even though my shoe pinched me.

  Barnaby : Let me do that.

  [removes Bess' shoes] 

• Thomas Seymour : Bess! Bess, forgive me. I was besides myself. I didn't know what I was doing.

  Young Bess : You couldn't help it. You either had to kiss me or - and I think it was better that you slapped me.

• Young Bess : It's been a glorious night, don't you think so? Something to remember. Something to talk about on a long, winter Danish night.

  Barnaby : Don't leave us! Don't leave England. On the lonely plains of Denmark, the snows of Sweden, that's not for you. You're so - exquisite!